German Chancellor Angela Merkel
said Tuesday she could not comment on a report in German daily
Bild that the authorities feared Islamist terrorists were
planning attacks on European beaches.
"We know there are threats in all European countries and I
cannot comment further on these reports," Merkel said.
The chancellor also stressed the need for "close
collaboration" between intelligence services and security forces
throughout Europe.
"Only in this way is it possible to combat ISIS," Merkel
said.
For their part Italian intelligence sources said Tuesday
that the German news reports were "groundless".
The sources also denied a report that Italian intelligence
services had sent on information about the possibility that
terrorists disguised as beach hawkers could blow themselves up.
"Terrorism planned on our beaches!" wrote Bild citing
alleged contacts between the Italian secret services and the
German ones.
The information regarding this potential threat came from
Africa, the report said, adding that terrorists were ready to
use explosives and fire arms on European beaches.
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